New Post
Search
HelpWilds, Wildes, Wilder
I can't get these names out of my head (for a boy). I have no claim to them whatsoever, but I just think the sounds are so pretty. I know Wilder has kind of caught on, and it's of the same kind of trend as, say, Walker, but it feels so much earthier to me. So, what do you think of Wilds, Wildes (pronounced the same way) and Wilder. Would your opinion change if the boy was named something like Thomas Wilder Smith and he went by his middle name?
______________________________________________________________________
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
Wilds and Wildes are weird to me, they don't sound anything like a given name. Wilder is nice, and so is Wilde.
1
Wilds and Wildes both feel really, really weird and awkward to me. But even though Wilder is in the category of names that usually isn't my style at all, I do kind of like it - I think because of Laura Ingalls Wilder. My opinion would change if it were the middle name, though, and it would become "Why did they make Wilder his middle name if that's what they intended to call him?"
1
Of the three I think Wilder is usable. Wilds and Wildes I have never seen before and are not very "namey" or flow well. I like Wilder, it has a nice nature vibe to it.
I don't understand when people give their kid a first name (a perfectly good one even) just for the sake of using a particular nickname, or in this case a perfectly good first name but call them by the middle name??? Sorry, rant over.
I don't understand when people give their kid a first name (a perfectly good one even) just for the sake of using a particular nickname, or in this case a perfectly good first name but call them by the middle name??? Sorry, rant over.
1
It's very common in the southern us and in my family. I guess it must seem strange when you're not used to it.
1
Wilder reminds me of Tucker and Ryder but is more ridiculous.
It doesn't totally fit into the *er surname trend imo, because most of the rest of those reference occupations or are verbs. A Walker walks, but what is a a Wilder implied to be doing...Wilding? Being the wildest? In the context of names, my first association with Wilder is Gene Wilder, which makes it seem campy and comedic more than anything.
I get this kind of vibe from it...
Wilds as a NN for middle name Wilder seems more whimsical, yet toned down; it could grow on me, similar to the way I'd get used to Jules as a NN for Julian or something. And it sounds more like a noun to me than an adjective, which I'd prefer (the wilds aka wilderness vs humans being wild - it seems more similar to Forest / Forester)...also like Wentworth "Worth", which I've heard before.
It doesn't totally fit into the *er surname trend imo, because most of the rest of those reference occupations or are verbs. A Walker walks, but what is a a Wilder implied to be doing...Wilding? Being the wildest? In the context of names, my first association with Wilder is Gene Wilder, which makes it seem campy and comedic more than anything.
I get this kind of vibe from it...
Wilds as a NN for middle name Wilder seems more whimsical, yet toned down; it could grow on me, similar to the way I'd get used to Jules as a NN for Julian or something. And it sounds more like a noun to me than an adjective, which I'd prefer (the wilds aka wilderness vs humans being wild - it seems more similar to Forest / Forester)...also like Wentworth "Worth", which I've heard before.
This message was edited 10/13/2019, 3:26 PM
1
I think I would “appreciate “ it more, if it was something like Thomas Wilder and he went by Wilder, but I can’t really say I like it. I loved Little House on the Prairie books, but it still doesn’t work for me.
I recently met a sibset of Willie (about 4) and Wilder(about 2). And they were definitely wild. That may have totally ruined it for me!
I recently met a sibset of Willie (about 4) and Wilder(about 2). And they were definitely wild. That may have totally ruined it for me!
This message was edited 10/13/2019, 2:41 PM
1
I think Wilder is more similar to names like Harlow, Poe, Cash, Nash, Cullen, Bronte, Monroe, Flannery, that rely on a more cultural (literary or pop) image, than it is like Walker (Walker makes me think of Johnnie, it's more generic and westerny and casual and random, like Cooper or Carson or Roscoe or Ryder or Landon).
I see the appeal of the sound and sort of outdoorsy-but-civilized vibe. On paper anyway. I think the -ild- or -ildz sound is a little difficult and awkward to say, though, used as a name that people had to say to him all the time. It'd come easier, and be less dorky and more real-person-ish, if he were nn'ed Wiley.
I'd call it a GP myself. To me it seems that way. But you seem to feel less G and more P than I would - I guess the associations I have (partying/animals, Laura, Oscar Wilde) bother you less than they bother me. And that's okay with me. It's not like it's a horrible name. I could call a guy Wildes or Wilder. I wouldn't really like it, I'd think it was a little silly and self-conscious, but I'd get used to it. As long as we didn't go to bed, haha. It'd become 'just his name' over time, and not stay distracting forever.
Wilds seems more word-y and eccentric, less namey. But it isn't unusable, for you if you like it a lot.
My opinion would be higher, if you just named him Wildes or Wilder and called him that, than if you named him Thomas Wilder with the intention of calling him Wilder. If you really don't think you'd ever call him Wilder, then you could "hide" it in the MN slot. But I think if you're going to use a name you're crazy about, and it's more important to you than any potentially negative impressions anyone might take, then bloody well own it. Don't hedge by saying his "real" FN is Thomas. If he's Wilder Thomas and doesn't like Wilder, then he could choose to go by Thomas.
I see the appeal of the sound and sort of outdoorsy-but-civilized vibe. On paper anyway. I think the -ild- or -ildz sound is a little difficult and awkward to say, though, used as a name that people had to say to him all the time. It'd come easier, and be less dorky and more real-person-ish, if he were nn'ed Wiley.
I'd call it a GP myself. To me it seems that way. But you seem to feel less G and more P than I would - I guess the associations I have (partying/animals, Laura, Oscar Wilde) bother you less than they bother me. And that's okay with me. It's not like it's a horrible name. I could call a guy Wildes or Wilder. I wouldn't really like it, I'd think it was a little silly and self-conscious, but I'd get used to it. As long as we didn't go to bed, haha. It'd become 'just his name' over time, and not stay distracting forever.
Wilds seems more word-y and eccentric, less namey. But it isn't unusable, for you if you like it a lot.
My opinion would be higher, if you just named him Wildes or Wilder and called him that, than if you named him Thomas Wilder with the intention of calling him Wilder. If you really don't think you'd ever call him Wilder, then you could "hide" it in the MN slot. But I think if you're going to use a name you're crazy about, and it's more important to you than any potentially negative impressions anyone might take, then bloody well own it. Don't hedge by saying his "real" FN is Thomas. If he's Wilder Thomas and doesn't like Wilder, then he could choose to go by Thomas.
This message was edited 10/13/2019, 1:26 PM
1
Wilder is okay. I’m not a fan, but it works as a name to me. Wilds/Wildes just doesn’t work as a first name to me.
1
I think they're silly, and I'm somebody who loves the Little House books so I have affection for the Wilder family name.
The names have the same lame, immature vibe as Riot and Danger. I think people who use those as names are brain-damaged. At least Wilder actually does sound like a real last name, but that's all you can say for it.
The names have the same lame, immature vibe as Riot and Danger. I think people who use those as names are brain-damaged. At least Wilder actually does sound like a real last name, but that's all you can say for it.
1
eek, I didn't even think about the "wild" aspect of it. That does make it kind of like Clash or Hunter or osmething.
1
Wilder is nice, but I don't like Wilds/Wildes, at all. Honestly, that sounds like the name of a butler. If Wilder was the middle name, I would assume it was a family name. Funny, because I wouldn't make that assumption if Wilder was the first name, probably because it *is* slightly trendy. I have only ever met one, though, and he was in his 20's.
It also reminds me of Almanzo and Laura, but I guess that can't be helped. Not bad associations, though.
It also reminds me of Almanzo and Laura, but I guess that can't be helped. Not bad associations, though.
1